Ayyappa devotees car runs over morning walkers in Ambalamukku, two killed

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Every morning when the clock ticks at 5, the streets of Ambalamukku will witness two friends Haridas and Vijayan Pillai, committed completely in their morning walks. Every morning, they walk from Vazhayila to Ambalamukku and detour the same way, satiating their physical exertion. On the return journey, the duo never missed the hot tea offered at Annachi’s tea shop in Peroorkada. Both of them adhered to traffic rules and never walked on the road even during the traffic-free morning hours.

Friends and other loved ones broke down in tears hearing the drastic news from Monday morning. Haridas was a public figure and an entrepreneur. He owned a bakery and it would start every morning, a short while after Haridas returned from his walk. However, on Monday, their family members turned anxious after both of them failed to return on time. The resultant search ended up in the shattering news.

A car that was speeding down the vacant road thrashed away both Vijayan Pillai and Haridas near the Peroorkada bus stop in the early hours of Monday. The car in which the Ayyappa devotees were travelling lost control and entered the footpath. The tire marks show that the driver tried applying the brake when the front of the car hit a low curb near the footpath. But it was too late for any saviour act as the car already rammed into the two commuters.

According to police, the two friends never saw the car behind them or else they could have escaped by moving the other way. After the crash, both the friends fell into a pit in an unconscious state. The forensic team reached the spot and inspected the place. In the incident, the Peroorkada police registered a case of involuntary manslaughter against the car driver.